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Olay vs Shiseido

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Olay and Shiseido are well-regarded skincare options offering thoughtful arrays of moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and more, all formulated with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide. Olay suits acne-prone and mature skin best through targeted products like the Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum, Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream, and Brightening Eye Cream, using niacinamide to improve wrinkles, pigmentation, and aging, while glycerin enhances hydration and barrier function. Conversely, the Japanese brand Shiseido suits sensitive and mature skin best with meticulous choices like the Treatment Softener, Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Day Cream, and Essential Energy Hydrating Cream, relying on glycerin to significantly improve stratum corneum hydration. While both brands feature gentle care suited to complex needs, they differ in their heritage, specific formulations, and primary ingredient combinations.

Shiseido is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1872 and owned by Shiseido Company, Limited.

corp.shiseido.comen.wikipedia.orgmarketscreener.com

This page compares some of the most popular Olay and Shiseido products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Olay vs Shiseido products

People Say

OlayShiseido
  • Texture and absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “silky smooth, rich but non-greasy, absorbs quickly, melts into skin — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Airy-soft texture — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Immediate sensation of comfort — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
    • “skin feels plump, soft and nourished, eliminates dryness, bouncy feel — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Skin feels more hydrated — Shiseido Activating Essence”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Anti-aging and skin smoothing Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Smoothed out crow's feet — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Radiance and brightening Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “Skin looks brighter, more radiant, and "glowy." — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “faded pimple marks — Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Gel Cream”
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formula Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “no scent — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “love that it's fragrance-free — Olay Retinol24”
    • “No irritation — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
  • Pleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Pleasant floral fragrance, relaxing, luxurious smell. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “spa-like scent, high-quality packaging, little goes a long way — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “Fresh floral scent — Shiseido Essential Energy Hydrating Cream”
    • “smells amazing — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “Very expensive for the size — Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”
    • “smells like plastic — Olay Retinol24”
    • “old lady smell — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
  • Packaging concerns and flaws Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “heavy to travel — Shiseido Eudermine Revitalizing Essence”
    • “Heavy bottle but plastic pump, cannot see remaining product, straw too short to get last drops. — Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate”
    • “heavy jar, waste of plastic, faulty pump (on dispenser versions) — Shiseido VITAL PERFECTION”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”

Olay vs Shiseido routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Olay vs Shiseido routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Olay or Shiseido: which is better?

Olay is generally a better choice for shoppers seeking fragrance-free options and anti-aging benefits, while Shiseido is noted for deep hydration and luxurious textures. Reviewers find that Olay excels in anti-aging and gentle formulations, whereas Shiseido is often praised for deep-cleansing cleansers and deep hydration.

What is the difference between Olay and Shiseido?

Olay is more fragrance-free and often better for dry skin and anti-aging, while Shiseido offers deep hydration and luxurious textures at a higher price point. Both brands provide effective options for mature, sensitive, and acne-prone skin.

Olay or Shiseido for dry skin?

Olay is a better choice for dry skin, as the routine fit on this page is High compared to Shiseido's Average. Furthermore, Olay offers more fragrance-free options across the products on this page, which helps minimize irritation for dry skin types.

Olay or Shiseido: which cleanser is better?

Olay is better for sensitive skin because the products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and avoid the strong scents found in Shiseido cleansers. Reviewers note that Olay offers better prices, whereas Shiseido products often come with a high price point.

Which is more affordable, Olay or Shiseido?

Olay is more affordable than Shiseido, as Shiseido's high price point is a mostly mentioned concern among reviewers. Additionally, Olay offers more fragrance-free options across the products on this page.

Olay or Shiseido: which brand has more fragrance-free options?

Olay has more fragrance-free options, as 26 of the 27 products on this page list no fragrance. In contrast, only 5 of the 20 Shiseido products on this page are fragrance-free.

Olay or Shiseido for oily skin?

Both Olay and Shiseido provide products on this page that achieve an equal high routine fit level for oily skin. Reviewers note that Olay helps provide a lightweight feel, while Shiseido helps deliver deep hydration with luxurious textures.

Olay or Shiseido: which moisturizer is better?

Olay is generally a better choice for moisturizers on this page, offering fragrance-free options and superior anti-aging benefits compared to Shiseido. The products on this page help deliver intense hydration and improve skin texture, while Shiseido tends to have a higher price point and stronger fragrances.

Olay or Shiseido for sensitive skin?

Olay is the better choice for sensitive skin because the products on this page are mostly fragrance-free and offer a High routine fit, whereas Shiseido features more scented formulas and mixed fit levels.

Olay or Shiseido: which sunscreen is better?

Olay offers a better fit for dry skin with its sunscreens, whereas Shiseido provides options with varying fit levels that may include warnings for dry skin types.

Olay or Shiseido for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering High routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit while providing more fragrance-free options. The products on this page help manage breakouts with key ingredients like Niacinamide, which may help regulate skin tone and reduce blemishes.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Olay or Shiseido for mature skin?

Olay fits mature skin better than Shiseido, with Olay providing a High routine fit compared to Shiseido's High fit level, and nearly all Olay products on this page list no fragrance. Additionally, Olay helps improve skin texture and provides intense hydration.

Olay or Shiseido for skin with dark spots?

Olay fits skin with dark spots well, offering superior and high ratings across multiple products on this page and leaning on ingredients like niacinamide. Shiseido also performs well with high ratings for several products, but reviewers note a higher price point compared to Olay.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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